Towing-machine.



40.676,196. y -Patented lune'u, lsol. F. METCALF. TWING MACHINE.

(Application led Mar. 13, 1901.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-$heet l.

)III 32 3 fr; i

A Tros/vf YJ @www 93 No. 676,196. f rammed lune u, |901.

r. rar-:Temi4 TOWING MACHINE.

` (Appliqation led Mar. 13, 1901.) Y (No Model.) 2 S`heets$heet 2.

@LA fro/mfr.;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK METCALF, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE CHASE MACHINECOMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

TowiNG-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 676,196, dated June 11, 1901.

l l Application filed March 13, 1901. Serial No. 50,897. (No model.)

improvements in towing-machines.

One object of my invention is to preventthe tow-line-engaging drum frompaying out or-winding up too much line` and yet enable the drum to payout a comparatively large length of line when the strain upon thetowline exceeds the normal strain.

Another objectof my invention is to provide improved mechanism forautomatically controlling the operation of the valve which controls thesupply of steam or fluid under pressure to the Huid-pressure engine ofthe machine, so that when the strain upon the towline becomes abnormalthe valvewillautomatically be actuated to increase or decrease thesupply of steam or fiuid to the engine, ac-

cording as the strain upon the tow-line has become greater or less thanthe normal strain.

Another object of the invention is to provide such an improvedconstruction and arrangement of the parts of the mechanism forcontrolling the operation of the aforesaid valve that when the abnormalstrain upon the tow-line is great enough to require the movement of thevalve into its full-'open position the valve shall be permitted withoutinjury to any part of the mechanism and without interfering with thefunction which is to be performed by the mechanism to remain full openuntil a rotation ofthe tow-line-engaging drum in the direction oppositeto the direction in which it is rotated by the abnormal strain upon theline is effected.

With these objects in view and to the end of realizing other advantageshereinafter appearing the invention consists in certain features ofconstruction and combinations of parts hereinafter described, andpointed out in the claims.

f In the accompanying drawings, FigureIis a invention. A portion `of thewinding-drum is broken away in this figuretomore clearly show certainfeatures of construction. II is a top plan, partly in section, showingthe `mechanism for automatically controlling the operation of the valvewhich controls the supply of steam orfiuid under pressure to the engineof the machine, and portions are broken away in this figure to reducethe size of the drawing. Fig. III is a side elevation top plan of atowing-machine embodying my Fig.'

showing a portion of the mechanism for conv trolling the operation ofthe said valve. Fig. IV is a vertical section on line 1V IV, Fig. II,looking inthe direction indicated by the arrow. Fig. V is a view showinga portion of the mechanism for controlling the operation of the valveand other features hereinafter described. Eig. VI is an elevationshowing the valve-casing containing the aforesaid valve in cent-rallongitudinal section with the valve full open and with thevalve-operating mechanism in a corresponding position. Eig. VII is avertical section on line VII VII, Fig. II, illustrating mechanism forpreventing circumferential displacement of a star-wheel constituting apart of the illustrated valveoperating mechanism. Fig. VIII is a viewillustrative of the operation of the mechanism shown in Fig. VII.Portions are broken away'in Figs. VII and VIII to more clearl showcertain features of construction.

Referring to Fig. I of the drawings, a designates the stationaryframework of the lmachine', and b represents a horizontally-arrangedengine-shaft, which is supported from the framework c in any approvedmanner. The shaft b is operatively provided with `cranks b2, which havetheir wrists operaing a cylinder to exhaust at one end whiletakinginfluidv under pressure at its other end are so Well understoodthat description and illustration thereof in detail are consid-v eredunnecessary in this specification. Suffice it to state that the valvesd' within the valve-chests and shown in dotted lines, Fig.

` I, are operatively connected with the rods 6 of eccentric-straps e,which embrace eccentrics b', formed upon the shaft b in theusual "mannenA shaft fis arranged at one side of and parallel with and a suitabledistanceY from the engine-shaft b and supported from the framework a. Apinion bs is operatively mounted upon the engine-shaft b and meshes withthe counter-gear f3 of a counter-shaft f4, Whichis supported from theframework a and a r.

ranged between'and parallel withthe shafts b andf. The shaft f4 has acounter-pinion f5, meshin g with the spur-gear f2, operatively mountedupon the Ashaft j'. A drum f is operatively mounted in any approvedmanner uponthe shaft f, and the tow-line Z engages the lsaid drumyand iscoiled upon or paid out by the drum, according as the drum is rotated inthe one or the other direction. The towlinel leads from the drum f' inthe direction Yindicated by the arrow in Fig. I. 3.33`

Steam-supply passage-ways d2 conduct the steam to the valve-chests d ofthe engine-cylinders, and g designates a valve-casing having its chamberconnected at g3 with the said passage-ways, and g represents a commonslide-valve vcontained within the said casing and controllin-gthesupplyof steam passing through the casing to the outlet g3 of the said casingfrom the casings inlet g2. (See Figs. Il and VI.) The arrangement ofparts is such thatV normally the valve g shall be partiallyr open, asshown in Fig. Il, admitting enough steam. to the valve-chests of theengine to supply the engine-cylinders with a quantity of steamsufficientto counterbalance the normal strain upon vthe tow-line. apparatuswhereby-the valve g' is automatically actuated in the direction requiredto still farther open the said valve or,I moved in the oppositedirection, according as the strain upon the tow-linefrom any causebecomes greater or less than the normal strain upon Lhesaid line, isprovided, and my invention,

wheel having radial teeth or projections h,

arranged at equal intervals circumeren tiall y of thewheel and adaptedto be rotated one tooth. at a time by means operatively connectedWithamovable member of the en gine,

the one direction or the other. :member 7c is formed, preferably, uponone Mechanism or is operatively mounted upon a shafth, which issupportedfromthe framework ot and arranged horizontally and parallelwith the engine-shaft b, preferably at one side of one of the veccentricstrap rods e of the engine. Preferably the shaft h2 extends near thesaid rod e and the Wheel h is mounted upon the v shaftsend which isadjacent to the said rod,

and a pin or projection e2, with which the said rod e is provided, isarranged to engage and intermittently rotate the wheel h, one

tooth at a time,once during each rotation of the engine-shaft, andobviously the Wheel h, and

consequently the shaft h2, are rotated in the kat right angles to andbelow the Worm-shaft h2. The slide-valve g has its stem g4 extendfingoutside of the valve-casing g, parallel -with the worm-shaft h2, andconsequently at rright angles to the shaft 7c. `lishing operativeconnection between the Means for estabvalve-stemgl and a revolving pinor member c, with which the shaft 7c is provided, isem- ,ployed, and thearrangement of parts is such more nearly close the same, according asthe said revoluble pin or member* 7c travels in The revoluble of theparts or members of a clutch with which the shaft It is providedthat is,the shaft 7.o 'extends between the Worm-shaft and the line of thevalve-stem gl and has its ouierend provided With a clutch whose members762 and 7c3 are provided upon their opposing faces withmutually-engageable pins 7a4 and holes h5. The holes h5 are shown formedin the outer clutch member 7c3 and engaged by the pins 7a4, with whichthe inner clutch member lr,2 is provided. The inner clutch member k2 isslidable endwise of the shaft 7c, but operatively connected with thelshaft by the well-known means of groove and feather j, as shown in Fig.IV, and can therefore be actuated out of operative engagement with thecompanion and other clutch member k3, being provided with an annulargroove '76, engaged by the fork of a forked lever t', applied in anyapproved manner. The outer clutch member 7c3 is loosely mounted on theextreme outer end of the shaft 7c and prevented fromV displacementendwise of the shaft by means of any suitable number of set-screws m,which eX- tend through the said clutch member into engagement with anannular groove k7, formed in the periphery of the shaft, andtherevoluble pin or member lo of the shaft, already hereinbefore referredto, is formed upon the outer end of the said loosely-mounted clutchmember at one side of the axial line of the shaft IOO IIO

and is operatively connected with or disconnected from the shaft,according as the clutch members engage or disengage each other. Anormally horizontally arranged bar o, extending from the outer end ofthe stem g4 of the valve g', is pivoted at one end horizontally andparallel with the shaft Zr to the outer end of the said stem by means ofa pin n. The bar o is provided in its under side with a recess o',arranged to be engaged by the revoluble pin or member 7c' of the shaft7c during the operation of the machine. The arrangement of parts ispreferably such that the valve g in the normal position of the parts hasbeen moved about one-fourth of its travel toward its full-open positionby the pin or member 7c', as shown in Figs. II and III. With the worm h3provided with a left-hand thread and with the arrangement of theremaining parts of the valve-operating mechanism as hereinbeforedescribed and illustrated, obviously the revoluble pin or member 7stravels in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figs. III and VI orin'the opposite direction, according as the winding-drum f is beingrotated in the direction required to pay out or wind up tow-line. Inother words, theshaft k is intermittently rotatedin the directionindicated by the arrow in Figs. III and VI when the toW-line-engagingdrum pays out tow-line during an abnormal strain 'upon the said line andis rotated in the opposite direction when the drum is rotated in thedirection required to wind up tow-line when the strain upon the tow-linebeing normal is from any cause reduced or when au abnormal straingreater than the normal strain upon the saidline is from any causelessened. In the normal position of the parts enough steam is beingadmitted to the engine to counterbalance the normal strain upon thetow-line and the revoluble pin or member 7c is ready to move the bar 0,and consequently the connected valve g',in the direction required toadmit more steam to the engine or in the opposite direction to reducethe supply of steam to the engine, according as the strain upon thetow-line is increased or decreased. It will be observed that thearrangement of parts is such also that an operative engagement betweenthe revoluble pin or member la of the shaft 7c and the bar 0 takes placeonly during the upper half of `the revolution of the said member 7c',and

that consequently the travel of the valve g is effected during the saidhalf of the revolution of the said member k', and that the valve Vwillbe left in the one or the other of its ex- 'treme positions, accordingas the'aforesaid revoluble pin or member 7c', traveling in the onedirection or the other, has commenced to make the lower half of itsrevolution during its said travel. The capability of the supply of steamto the cylinder is continued until the abnormality in the strain uponthe tow-line is removed without any injuryto or interference with thevalve-operating mechanism or other parts of the machine. It will beobserved also that with a drum f capable of winding up or uncoiling sixinches ot towline during one rotation of the engine-shaft and with thestar-wheel h having ten teeth, with the worm h3 having a pitch ofthreefourths of an inch, and with the worm-wheel kx having apitch-circle eighteen inches in diameter the drum will pay out or windup one hundred and twenty feet of tow-line during one revolution ot theVrevoluble pin or member 7s of the shaft 7c or the drum will pay out orwind up sixty feet of tow-line during. the travel of the steam-supplyvalve g from the one to the other ot' its extreme positions. i

The operative connection of the revoluble pin or member 7c with theshaft k through the instrumentality of a clutch renders possible anaccurate setting or adjustment of the said memberk relative to theposition of the valve g in placing the machine in condition foroperation. A disengagement of the slidable clutch member 7a2 by a propermanipulation of the lever i, engaging the said clutch member from thecompanion and relatively stationary clutch member 7c3, renders thelastmentioned clutch member and the revoluble pin or member 7c withwhich it is provided free to be adjusted circumferentially of the shaftk, and a restablishment ot operative engagement between the two clutchmembers secures the said revoluble member 7c in the desired adjustment.

Means for locking the star-wheel 7i and connected mechanism, so far asactuation or operation of the said wheel and mechanism is concerned,when not being operated by the pin or projection e2 of the respectiveeccentric-rod e' is provided and comprises, preferably, a bar p, whichis suspended from the said rod, as shown in Figs. II, VII, and VIII,between the star-wheel and the said rod. The

` pin or projection e2 is preferably formed upon a collar e3, mountedupon the said eccentricrod and secured in the desired adjustment bymeans of a set-screw e4. The said pin or projection e2 is circular inend elevation. The bar p is provided at its upper end with an ear p',that loosely embraces and is turnable upon the pin or projection e2. Thebar p is pivotally connected at its lower end by means of a pin p2,arranged horizontally and parallel with the axis of the star-wheel to averticallyarranged and vertically shiftable slide s, which engages acorrespondingly -arranged slideway forming hole a', formed in the bed orstationary framework a of the machine, and the said slide s is providedat its upper end with a member s', arranged to enter the space betweenthe two adjacent teeth or projections h of the star-wheel hsimultaneously (see Fig. VIII) with the disengagement of IOC IIO

IZO

' the pin .or ,projectionc of the aforesaid eccentric-rodfrom the saidwheel, and preferably the slide s `has two members s', forming a forkarranged to straddle the tooth or projection of the star-wheel formedbetween the wheels spaces entered by the said members s.

Obviously the engagement of the space or spaces formed between the teethor projecagain operated by the llast-mentioned pin or"v projection, andconsequently there isno liability of a circumferential displacement ofthe revoluble pin or member 7c of the shaft lo between the intermittentmovements -of the wheel h during the operation of the ma chine. Thesweep of the star-wheel-actuatin member (a2-is shown in dotted lines,Fig. VII.

Another bar r, arranged at the outer side and a short distance from andextending longitudinally of the bar o, isnormally parallel with the baro and is pivoted at one end horizontally and parallel with the axialline of the shaft-1,70 tothe outer end of the valve-stem g4 preferablyby means of the pin n, which attaches the inner bar o to the said stem.The

bar r is attached at its other end to a suit-- ably-appliedmanually-operated lever r'. A short shaft i, arranged horizontally andparallel with the shaft 7c, and consequently arranged at right angles tothe bars o and o', is

,journaled in the outer bar a a `suitable distance from the pivot n andis operatively provided at its inner end, between the two bars 0 and r,with a depending arm or lever i', which has a lug or member t2projecting 'in under and affording a bearing or support-for the innerbar o, as shown in Figs. II and 1V. `The shaft tat its outer end isoperatively provided with a hand-lever i3. The provision of themanually-operated shaft t and its varm t t2 enables the upward tiltingof the bar o to .the extent required to lift the recessed p0rtion of thesaid bar out of the path of the revoluble pin or member 7d, and therebyrender inoperativethe mechanism employed-in automatically controllingthe operation of said valve g when required for any reasonas, forinstance, in establishing the normal length of tow-line between thevessel towing and the boat being towed. Fig. V shows `the -shaft tturned to the extent required to lift the bar o out of the path of thepin or member k.

I wouldhave it understood that. although the details of constructionhereinbefore described possess considerable merit my invention is notlimited to such details'. For instance, the

recess 0', formed in the under side of the bar o, has the twooppositely-facing walls thereof forming two shoulders, and the revolublep in ,or member lo during the operation of lthe said bar engages andpushes against the lone or the other of the said shoulders, according asthe said revoluble member is `actuated in the Ione ldirection ortheothemand -my;inven tion embraces, broadly, any-,movable bar operatively connected withthe fluid-supply-controlling valve of a,towing-.machine and Aprovided with two oppositely-facin gshouldersarranged a suitable distance apart, in combination with a suitably-applied and suitably-operated revoluble or movablememberarranged to engage and push against the one or theother of thesaid shoulders, according as itis traveling in the one orthe otherdirection. Obviously also anymachine of the character indicated shouldbe provided with means for enabling a `reversalof'the engine, andobviously an ordinary combined Huid-supply controlling andreversingval'ye `might beemployed in lieu of the plain slide-.valveillustrated; butrevers inggears and reversing-valves are so wellunderstood that 'illustration or description thereof is not considerednecessary in this application, and I -Would have it understood that myinvention .is not limited -to the Aemployment of any particular type ofvalve, nor to any special arrangement of the parts of the mechanism fortransmitting motion from the engine to .the valve.

What I claim is 1. -In a towing-machine, the combination, with thetow-line-engagin g drum, a fluid-pressure engine, anopera-tiveconnection between the engine-shaft andthe drum, a passage-wayfor conducting fluid under pressure tothe engine,and a valve arranged tocontrol the supply of iuid to the said passage-way, of a shiftable baroperatively connected with the valve and provided with two shouldersarranged a suitable distance apart, a revoluble pin or member arrangedto engage and pushagainst the one or the other of the said shouldersaccording as it is traveling in the one or the other direction, andmechanism whereby the revoluble memberis actuated lin the one directionor the other according as the engine-shaft is rotated in the one or theother direction.

2. In a towing-machine, the combination, with a fluid-pressure engine,the windingdrum, an operative connection between the drum andthe shaftof the engine, a vpassageway for supplying fluidunder pressure to theengine, a valvefcasing having an inlet for receiving the Iiuid underpressure, andan outlet connected with the said passage-way, and asuitably-applied valve controlling communication between the inlet Vandthe outlet of the valve-casing, of a shiftable bar operatively connectedwith the valve and provided with a recess, and suitably-operatedmechanism comprising a movable pin or member for engaging the saidrecess and actuating the bar, the arrangement of parts being such thatthe valve is actuated in the one direction or the other according as theaforesaid bar is shifted in the one or the other direction,substantiallyas'and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a `towing-machine, the combination, with a Huid-pressure engine,the winding IOO IIO

drum, an operative connection between the drum andthe engine-shaft, anda passageway for supplying fluid under pressure to the engine, of avalve-casing having an inlet for receiving the iiuid under pressure andhaving an outlet connected with the aforesaid passage-way, anendwiseshiftable bar, a

valve controlling communication between the inlet and the outlet of thevalvecasing and operatively connected with the aforesaid bar,suitably-operated mechanism comprising a revoluble pin or member, andmeans for transmitting motion from the said revoluble member to the bar,the arrangement of parts being such that the valve is actuated in theone direction or the other according as the aforesaid bar is shifted inthe one or the other direction, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

4. In a towing-machine, the combination, with a huid-pressure engine,the windingdrum, an operative connection between the drum and theengine-shaft, a passage-way for supplying fluid under pressure to theengine,

V said shoulders according as it is traveling in the one direction orthe other,which last-mentioned shaft is parallel or approximatelyparallel with the axis of the pivotal connection between the said barand the valve-stem, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a towing-machine, the combination, with a fluid pressure engine,the Windingdrum, an operative connection between the drum and theengine-shaft, a passage-way for supplying fluid under pressure to theengine, a valve-casing having an inlet for receiving the fluid underpressure and having its outlet connected with the said passage-way, anda suitably-applied slide-valve arranged to opcrate in a horizontal planeand control communication between the inlet and the outlet of thevalve-casing and having a stem extending outside of the valve-casing, ofa suitablyoperated shaft arranged at right angles to the travel of thevalve, a vertically-tiltable end- Wise-shiftable barforming an extensionof and suitably pivoted to the valve-stem, and means for transmittingmotion from the last-mentioned shaft to the valve-stem and for actuatingthe valve in the one direction or the other according as the said shaftis rotated in the one or the other direction,- substantially as and forthe purpose set forth.

6. The combination, with a valve for controlling the supply offluidunder pressure to the engine of a towing-machine, ofa shiftable baroperatively connected with the valve and provided with two shouldersarranged a suit able distance apart, a revoluble member arranged toengage and push against the one or the other of the said shouldersaccording as it is traveling in the one or the other direction,and meansforoperat-ing the said revoluble member, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

7. The combination, with a valve for controlling the supply of fluidunder pressure to the engine of a towing-machine, of a shiftable baroperatively connected with the valve and provided with two shouldersarranged a suitable distance apart,a suitably-operated worm-` shaft,another shaft having a Worm-wheel in mesh with the worm of theworm-shaft, and a revoluble pin or member operatively connected with thelast-mentioned shaft and arranged to engage and push against the one orthe other of the said shoulders according as it is traveling in the oneor the other direction, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. The combination, with a valve for controlling the supply of fluidunder pressure to the engine of a towing-machine, of a shiftable baroperatively connected with the valve and provided with two shouldersarranged a suitable distance apart, a suitably-'operated shaft, arevoluble pin or member arranged to engage and push against the one orthe other of the said shoulders according as it is traveling in the oneor the other direction, and a clutch for controlling operativeconnection between the said revoluble pin or member and the shaft.

9. The combination, with a yalve for con-` trolling the su pply of fluidunder pressure to the engine of a towing-machine, of a shiftable baroperatively connected with the valve and provided with two shouldersarranged a suitable distance apart, a revoluble pin or member arrangedto engage and push against the one or the other of the said shouldersaccording as it is traveling in the one or the other direction, meansfor operating the said revoluble member, and the arrangement of partsbeing such that the said revoluble pin or member shall operate thevalve-actuating bar only during a portion of its revolution,

and shall be in position to disengage the said 10. The combination, witha valve for con` trolling the supply of iiuid under pressure to theengine of a towing-machine, of a shiftable bar operatively connectedwith the valve and provided, upon its under side, with two shouldersarranged a suitable distance apart, a revoluble pin or member arrangedto engage and push against the one or the other of the said shouldersaccording as it is trav-` eling in the one or the other direction, meansfor operating the said revoluble pin or member, and the arrangement ofparts being such that the said revoluble p in or member shall operatethe valve-actuating bar only during the upper portion of its revolution,and shall be in position to disengage the said bar when the said valvehas been shifted into its full-l open position, and means whereby thebar is supported when the bar is disengaged by the aforesaid revolublemember, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

1l. In atowing-machine, a tow-line-engag-- ing drum, a star-Wheel, afluid-pressure engine provided with a member arranged to interniittentlyactuate the star-wheel duringv the operation of the engine and to turnthe said wheel in the one direction or the other according as theengine-shaft is rotated in the one or the other direction, an operativeconnection between the drum and the shaft, a passage-way for conductingfluid under` pressure tothe engine, a valve for control` lingthesupplyof fluid to the said passageway, and mechanism for transmitting motionto the said valve from the aforesaid star-` Wheel, substantially as andfor the purpose set forth.

12. In a towing-machine,the winding-drum, a worm-shaft having astar-wheel for turning the same, a .fluid-pressure engine, an

1 the worm-shaft, and mechanism for transmitting motion from theworm-wheel-,bearing shaft to the valve, substantially as and for the,purpose set forth.

13. In a towing-machine, the toW-line-engaging winding-drum, aduid-pressure engine comprising a crank-shaft operatively connected withthe drum and having an ordinary eccentric strap and rod establishingoperative connection between the valve of a valve-chest of a cylinder ofthe engine and the engineshaft, which rod is provided with a pin orprojecting member, a star-wheel arranged to be intermittently rotated bythe said projectingrmember of the eccentric-rod during each rotation ofthe engine-shaft, a passage-way for conducting liuid under pressure tothe engine, a valve arranged to control the supply of iuidto the saidpassage-way, and mechanism ythrough the medium of which power foroperating the valve is transmitted from the star-wheel, substantially asand for the purpose set forth.

14. In a towing-machine, the combination, with a tow-line-engagingwinding-drum, a star-Wheel, a fluid-pressure engine having a memberarranged to intermittently actuate the star-wheel during the operationof the engine and to turn the said wheel in the one direction or-theother according as the engineshaft is rotated in the one or the otherdirec-A tion, an operative connection between the engine-shaft and thedrum, a passage-Way for conducting fluid under pressure to the engine, avalve arranged to control the supply of fluid to the said passage-way,and mechanism for transmitting motion to the said valve from theaforesaid- .star-wheel, of means for preventing circumferentialdisplacement of the star-wheelduring the intervals of time between theintermittent actuations of the wheel.

15. In a towing-machine, the combination,

with the tow-line-engaging d rum,a star-wheel, a fluid-pressureenginehaving a member arranged to intermittently actuate the starwheelduring the operation of the engine, and to turn the said wheel in theone direction or the other according as the engine-shaft vis rotated inthe one or the other direction, an operative connection between theengine-shaft and th'e drum, a passage-Way for conducting -fluid underpressure to the engine, a valve .arranged to control the supply of fluidto the said passage-Way, and mechanism for transmitting motion to theValve from the aforesaid star-wheel, of a movable member arranged toenter the space between adjacent `teeth or radial projections of thestar-wheel ,during the intervals of time between the intermittentactuations of the said wheel and thereby lock the said Wheel againstrotation during the said intervals of time, and such an operativeconnection between the said locking member and the engine as will resultin `rendering the said locking member operative `as soon as thestar-wheel-actuatin g member of the engine has disengaged the saidwheel.

16. In a towing-machine, the combination, with the tow-line-engagingdrum, a starwheel, means for intermittently-operating the star-wheel, aduid-pressure engine, an operative connection between the engine-sh aftand the drum, a passage-way for conducting fluid under pressure to theengine, a valve arranged to control the supply of fluid -to the saidpassage-way, and mechanism for transmitting motion to the said valvefrom the star-wheel, of a slide having a member arranged to enter thespace between adjacent teeth or radial projections of the star-wheelduring the intervals of time between the intermittent actuations of thesaid wheel, a slideway for the slide, and means for operating the saidslide, the arrangement of parts being such that-the said slide shall berendered operative as soon as the star-Wheel-actuating member hasdisengaged the said wheel.

17. In a towing-machine, the combination, with a tow-line-engaging drum,a star-wheel, a fluid-pressure engine having a pin or projecting memberarranged to intermittently actuate the star-wheel during the operationof the engine and to engage the said wheel at the top and turn the wheelin the one direction or the other according as the engineshaft isrotated in the one or the other direction, a passage-way for conductingfluid un- IOO IIO

der pressure to the engine, a valve arranged to control the supply offluid to the said passage-Way, and mechanism for transmitting motion tothe valve from the star-wheel, of a slide arranged at an elevation belowthe starwheel and movable up and down and having two upwardly-projectingmembers forming a fork arranged to straddle a tooth or radial projectionof the star-wheel during the upward movement of the slide, a slidewayfor the slide, and a bar having an ear loosely mounted upon theaforesaid star-wheel-actu` ating pin or member of the engine, which baris pivoted at its lower end to the aforesaid slide, all arranged andoperating substantially as shown, for the purpose specified. 18. In atowing-machine, the combination, with a tow-line-engaging drum, aHuid-pressure engine, an operative connection between the engine-shaftand the drum, a passage-Way for conducting Huid under pressure to theengine, and a Valve arranged to control the supply of liuid to the saidpassageway, of a revoluble pin or member, means for intermittentlyoperating the said revoluble member, and mechanism for transmittingmotion from the said revoluble member to the Valve. 19.' In atowing-machine, the combination, with the towline-engaging drum, afluid-pressure engine, an operative connection between the engine-shaftand the drum, a passage- Way for conducting fluid under pressure to theengine, and a valve arranged to control the supply of fluid to the saidpassage-way, of a bar having two shoulders arranged a suitable distanceapart, a pivotal connection between the bar and the valve, a revolublepin or member arranged to engage the one or the other of the saidshoulders according as it is traveling in the one direction or theother, and mechanism whereby the said revoluble member is actuated inthe one direction or the other according as the engine-shaft is rotatedin the one or the other direction, of means for shifting the aforesaidbar out of the path of the aforesaid revoluble member, substantially asand for the purpose set forth.

20. In a towing-machine, the combination, with the toW-line-engagingdrum, ailuid-pressure engine, an operative connection between theengine-shaft and the drum, a passageway for conducting fluid underpressure to the engine, a valve arranged to control the supply of fluidto the said passage-way, an upWardly-tiltable endwise-shiftable baroperatively connected with the valve and having its lower surfaceprovided with two shoulders arranged at a suitable distance apart, arevoluble pin or member arranged to engage or push against the one orthe other of the said shoulders according as it is traveling in the onedirection or the other, and mechanism whereby the said revoluble memberis actuated in the one direction or the other according as theengine-shaft is rotated in the one FREDERICK METCALFQ Witnesses:

C. H. DORER, A. H. PARRATT.

